Even when the Timberwolves look like they're figuring it out with seven wins in 10 games, they revealed themselves as an unserious basketball team when they trailed the Warriors 34-12 after one quarter Wednesday night and wound up losing 116-115. It was the latest speed bump in a season full of inconsistencies.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle appears to be frustrated, and this could mark the beginning of the end of his time in Minnesota.

One night the Wolves might primarily need Randle to be a playmaker. Another night they might need his scoring. It can be dependent on the other team's defensive look, like on Saturday when the Cleveland Cavaliers heavily utilized a zone set.

After reaching the Western Conference Finals last season, the Timberwolves find themselves quickly at the precipice again. Much of this was by their own design; before the season began they disrupted everything they had built by trading Karl-Anthony Towns for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo.

A proposed three-team trade could swap three different star forwards. The Wolves would acquire Brandon Ingram, New Orleans gets Miles Bridges, and Charlotte acquires Julius Randle . While this trade works due to contracts, all three teams would have to add another player or some future draft capital to sweeten up the deal.

In the aftermath of his first game against the Knicks this season, Julius Randle spoke candidly about the trade that altered his career. Looking back, Randle said that it "sucks" not to know what he could have accomplished with the Knicks.